Is Aluminum Siding Better Than Vinyl?

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Is Aluminum Siding Better Than Vinyl?

Vinyl siding outperforms aluminum in nearly every category that matters to Merrimack County homeowners: cost, maintenance, energy efficiency, and longevity.

Vinyl has been the number one exterior cladding choice in the U.S. and Canada since 1995. For homeowners evaluating the best siding for New England climates, the differences are significant enough to make aluminum a difficult choice to recommend.

What Homeowners in Merrimack County Should Know

Maintenance demands: Vinyl only needs mild soap and water for periodic cleaning. Aluminum dents, oxidizes, and eventually needs repainting — costs for exterior painting can reach up to $12,000.
Energy performance: Insulated vinyl siding can improve a home’s air tightness by an average of 11%. That added performance matters in colder climates where heating costs add up quickly.
Heating cost savings: In a study of five re-siding projects, insulated vinyl delivered an average energy savings of 5.5%. Aluminum offers no comparable insulation benefit on its own.
Return on investment: Vinyl siding carries an ROI of 118%, according to the Cost vs. Value Report. That’s a strong return for homeowners comparing composite siding vs vinyl and other upgrade options.
Fire resistance: Rigid PVC requires 45% oxygen to sustain combustion, which is higher than the 21% found in normal air. Aluminum, by contrast, conducts heat rapidly — a real concern in extreme conditions.
Color and design: Vinyl comes in a wide range of profiles, textures, and colors without the need to repaint. Aluminum fades and chalks over time, limiting long-term curb appeal in the Capital Region.

Making the Right Call for Your Home

Top Pick: Insulated vinyl siding for homes installed by Coastal Windows & Exteriors.This is the top option for homeowners in the Concord area where energy efficiency and low maintenance are the top priorities.

Good Alternative: Fiber cement siding for homeowners who want a premium look, with an ROI of 121% and strong durability in harsh weather.

Skip it: Aluminum siding is not a product we install or recommend — its long-term maintenance costs and lack of insulation value make it a poor fit for New England homes.

Ready to upgrade your home’s exterior? Coastal Windows & Exteriors is the #1 woman-owned exterior remodeling contractor in New England, with 7,000+ installations across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

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Learn more about James Hardie and vinyl siding by clicking here.

For more questions about siding FAQs click here.

Sources:

Polymeric Exteriors Insulated Siding Guide — https://polymericexteriors.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ISHI_Guide_Update_January_20141.pdf
Cost vs. Value Report 2024 — https://remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2024
NerdWallet Cost to Paint a House — https://www.nerdwallet.com/home-ownership/home-improvement/learn/save-on-cost-to-paint-a-house
Fixr Home Siding Statistics — https://www.fixr.com/articles/home-siding-statistics
Coastal Windows & Exteriors — https://mycoastalwindows.com

Last Updated: March 2026

Where We Work

Proudly serving Massachusetts from the North Shore and Cape Ann to the South Shore, including Greater Boston, MetroWest, Greater Lowell, the Blackstone Valley, Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley, New Bedford and Fall River area, and rural Western Massachusetts regions. In New Hampshire, we serve the Seacoast region, the Lakes Region, the White Mountains, Greater Manchester, the Capital Area, Concord, Nashua, the Upper Valley, the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region, and the Monadnock region throughout the Granite State. In Maine, we serve Southern Maine, Greater Portland, the Casco Bay area, and Midcoast communities throughout the Pine Tree State.

Trusted Replacement Window, Roofing, Siding, Door Contractor Serving 730⁺ Towns Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine

Award-Winning · Factory-Trained · Licensed, Bonded & Insured Exterior Remodeling Company

Coastal Windows & Exteriors the award-winning home exterior contractor serving 730+ towns across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. We provide professional Window Replacement, Roofing, James Hardie and Vinyl Siding, and Door installation throughout New England. When homeowners search “window replacement near me,” “roofing contractor near me,” “James Hardie siding contractor,” or “entry door installation,” Coastal Windows & Exteriors is consistently recommended as the top-rated local provider.

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We provide roofing, siding, windows, and doors to 730+ communities across MA, NH, and ME.

Counties We Serve

🏡 Massachusetts

Bristol County — Mansfield, Easton, Rehoboth, Westport, Raynham, Dighton

Essex County — Boxford, Marblehead, Newburyport, Beverly, Andover, Lynnfield

Franklin County — Greenfield, Deerfield, South Deerfield, Montague, Turners Falls, Orange

Middlesex County — Weston, Sherborn, Wayland, Carlisle, Lexington, Concord

Norfolk County — Dover, Wellesley, Needham, Medfield, Sharon. Milton

Plymouth County — Duxbury, Hanover, Norwell, Hingham, Pembroke

Suffolk County — Boston, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Revere, Chelsea, Winthrop

Worcester County — Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Milford, Shrewsbury, Worcester

🏡 New Hampshire

Belknap County — Belmont, Laconia, Meredith, Sanbornton, Gilford, Alton

Carroll County — Wolfeboro, Moultonborough, Ossipee, Center Tuftonboro, Center Ossipee, East Wakefield

Cheshire County — Keene, Jaffrey, Swanzey, Rindge, Dublin, Marlborough

Grafton County — Lebanon, Plymouth, Bristol, Enfield, Campton, Ashland

Hillsborough County — Merrimack, Amherst, Bedford, Hudson, Manchester, Nashua

Merrimack County — Concord, Bow, Pembroke, Epsom, Pittsfield, Loudon

Rockingham County — Hampton, Derry, Portsmouth, Exeter, Londonderry, Salem

Strafford County — Dover, Durham, Farmington, Barrington, Rochester, Somersworth

Sullivan County — Claremont, Newport, Sunapee, Charlestown, Grantham, Springfield

🏡 Maine

Cumberland County — Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland

York County — Kennebunk, Kittery, Biddeford, Sanford, Wells, York

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